It’s finally done. An issue on my favorite anime of all time!
I’v been working on this issue for the past two months. I originally wanted to pop it out last month, but I had a lot of things on my plate. As I said in the article description thing, this issue of Anime(ted) Gifs is of my favorite anime of all time: Fullmetal Alchemist. I own every single DVD of the original show (each with its own art book inside), the DVD and blu ray of the first movie, the blu ray set of Brotherhood, the blu ray of the Brotherhood OVAs, and the blu ray of the Brotherhood movie. This is also the only manga I’ve read from start to finish. This series also had two games on the PS2 with their own side stories. The stories weren’t too bad, but the gameplay was meh. So as you can see, it’s definitely my favorite series ever. This particular issue is only of the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, not Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. I may do a Brotherhood version at another date. I went through all 51 episodes to bring you a whopping 30 Gifs! I hope nobody has trouble viewing them all.
If you haven’t seen the show, I urge you to watch it as soon as possible! The spoilers are pretty much kept to a minimum in the gifs, with the exception of the ones in the toggle box. Some of you may or may not know the difference between Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Well, the first FMA was created while the manga was still being worked on. Because of that, they decided to branch off and create their own story. Once the manga’s story was complete, they made Brotherhood with that story. I think Brotherhood has a better story with less (if any) plot holes, but the English voice acting in the first FMA has a few better actors that didn’t reprise their roles. The English voice actors that played Scar, Marcoh, Alphonse, and Hoenheim were all replaced. You could listen to the Japanese audio instead if that’s what you’re into.
Fullmetal Alchemist follows two boys named Alphonse and Edward. Alphonse is the one in the suit of armor.The world this series is set in is different than our world. Alchemy evolved, and transmutation can be performed instantly.Transmutation isn’t some sort of witch craft. It can only make certain materials into other materials. It must follow specific laws of science.The boys’ bodies are this way after a failed human transmutation. The little brother had his soul attached to a suit of armor while the older brother lost his limbs. They were replaced with stuff called “automail,” which received signals from the brain to move like real limbs.You can transmute just about anything, except for humans. Their mother died when they were young. They did all they could to bring her back.After the failed human transmutation, they burned down their house and decided to join the state military.The military has an alchemist branch, but they boys are also well versed in combat.The fight scenes in this anime are pretty good. They don’t last a long time like some animes (Bleach).The show can have very serious moments, and a number of funny ones.Ed hates being called short.The only real family Ed and Al have is a childhood friend named Winry. Her grandmother looked after them after their mother died.It was quite a shock the first time Winry saw Alphonse’s new body.After joining the military, Ed and Al made many new friends and acquaintances. One was a girl named Nina. Technically, this was before they were accepted in.
Ed reports to a man named Roy Mustang, also known as the Flame Alchemist.Mustang is a very strong alchemist that’s constantly rising through the ranks.Mustang has been in the military for many years, and has seen many horrors.This anime can be incredibly serious at times. It’s not for the faint at heart.Underneath Mustang is a woman named Riza (Risa?) Hawkeye. She is very skilled with firearms, but doesn’t know a thing about alchemy.Hawkeye takes care of a little dog named Black Hayate. She’s very strict.Another soldier is Alex Louise Armstrong, the Strong Arm Alchemist. He has his shirt off for the majority of the anime. Here’s an epic bro fist.All of these soldiers have gone through war together. One of the bigger wars was against an old civilization called Ishbal. The state alchemists were called in to exterminate the people.The majority of the story is between Central and Ishbal, but there are some side stories here and there.From the ashes of Ishbal came an Isbalan named “Scar.” He hates state alchemists and the military, so he kills all he can find.Scar has his moments of bad assery.Scar and Ed cross paths a few times.Later on you meet the teacher of the boys. She’s constantly beating them up.
After awhile, a new enemy makes its appearance, the homunculi. Here’s the short fight between Ed and Greed.
The enemy takes the life of one of the major characters in an unexpected way. The funeral scene has made pretty much every viewer cry their eyes out.
Was this the ghost of Hughes waving good bye?
After the show ended, they made a conclusion movie called Fullmetal Alchemist and the Conqueror of Shambala. Sorry, no gifs from that movie. Again, if you haven’t seen this show, I highly recommend it!
